As "Oz" heads here, a word from the Wizard

Robert John Biedermann, portraying Professor Marvel, consults with Dorothy (Cassie Okenka) in "The Wizard of Oz." Biedermann also plays The Wizard in the touring musical, which comes to the Civic Theatre next week. (Kate Bristol will portray Dorothy in the Civic staging.)
— Joan Marcus

Robert John Biedermann, portraying Professor Marvel, consults with Dorothy (Cassie Okenka) in "The Wizard of Oz." Biedermann also plays The Wizard in the touring musical, which comes to the Civic Theatre next week. (Kate Bristol will portray Dorothy in the Civic staging.)
/ Joan Marcus

Robert John Biedermann, journeyman actor (and onetime San Diegan, back when he was a wee Munchkin of 4), takes on the role of the allegedly all-powerful title character in “The Wizard of Oz,” which hits the Civic Theatre next week. A chat with the man behind the curtain:

Q: “The Wizard of Oz” takes its name from your character, but it really ends up being about Dorothy. And “Wicked” (the hit musical “prequel” to the Oz story) is mostly about Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. When is the Wizard going to get his due?

A: I’m hoping they’re going to put out a third one that’ll just be called “The Wizard.”

Q: Well, there is “The Wiz.”

A: Yes — I actually did a performance of “The Wiz” once. I didn’t feel the show should have mixed casting, but they tried it. It was fun, but it just didn’t make any sense (given that "The Wiz" is an African-American take on the tale). If you get rid of that, it’s almost like, Why are you doing it?

Q: Who is the Wizard — is he malevolent or just kind of mixed-up?

A: I’ve heard many different descriptions. A lot of times the directors have him as a flimflam man, or a poor salesman. I don’t think he’s as coldhearted as people often think he is. I think he’s more befuddled, and he doesn’t want to get caught with his hand inside the hat with the rabbit.

It’s always my favorite moment (as the Wizard), when I say: “You don’t know how lucky you are not to have a heart. Hearts won’t be practical until they can be made unbreakable.” And the Tin Man says: “But I still want one.” I come to a realization that I’m actually in a place where I can make a difference.

A: I remember going to someone’s house, because we couldn’t afford a color TV, and one of our neighbors had one. We thought the TV was broken because the show starts off in black-and-white.

Q: Do you get airborne in this show?

A: I do flying when it’s time for the balloon to take off. I have a basket to get on, and of course they let go of the rope, and the balloon sails off as Dorothy is trying to find Toto. It really is all about the darned dog (by the way). That’s how I can tell whether it’s going to be a good show or not: At the very beginning, when Toto runs on, I can tell by the reaction.

Q: We’ve all heard about the flying mishaps that the musical “Spider-Man” has endured lately. Have you had any issues along those lines?